Hand operated snowplow



G. J. GAJEWSKH 2,785,483

HAND OPERATED SNOWPLOW March 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed J8.n. 25, 1952 INVEXTOR Georye Ja/m Gajaws/n" ATTORNEY Mam}! 1957 G. J. GAJEWSKI 2,785,483

' HAND OPERATED 'sNowPLow Filed Jan. 23, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a7 34 N ii INVENTOR Gav/ye Ja/m fia 'ewskf TTORNEY all ,a.

This invention relates to an improvement in implement and deals particularly with a tool which may be used for a plurality of purposes.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an implement having an elongated handle which supports a blade at substantially right angles thereto. This blade may be used as a hoe or similar cultivating implement. The blade is also useful in removing ice from the side walks. The blade is preferably provided with a cutting edge. If desired a rubber wiping blade may be at tached to or over this cutting edge so that the implement may be used for pushing water or slush from the walks.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a concave blade portion extending generally parallel to the flat blade edge and which is generally U'-shaped in cross section. This trough-shaped portion of the blade is off-set mainly to one side of the plane of the flat portion of the blade. The cutting edge of the blade is arranged substantially on the plane of the flat portion. Thus a trough or pocket is provided which is useful in shoveling snow and the like and which may enable the operator to lift snow and ice from the walks.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a snow pushing apparatus which includes a lower blade portion which is substantially U-shaped in section with the open end of the U directly forwardly. This trough-shaped portion tends to roll the snow forwardly as the blade is pushed over a fiat surface; At the same time the flat portion of the blade above the trough shaped portion catches any snow which is above the level of the trough-shapedportion. Thus the flat portion of the blade is of importance in conjunction with the trough-shaped portion in handling of snow.

The size of the implement depends upon the general type of work for which the tool is intended. For example, if the implement is for general purposes, the bladeis relatively narrow so that it is practical for use in cultivating and in similar tasks. However, when the implement ,is specifically intended for use in handling ice and snow, the blade is usually substantially longer inproportion to its height.

Various types of pushing implements have been constructed which have a rounded bladedesigned to roll the snow forwardly as the blade is pushed .over a surface. However, with most ofthese tools, the snow builds up to a greater height than the blade forwardly of theblade and the snow soon rolls over the top of the blade. The present implement is designed to roll the snow-forwardly andstill to provide aguard projecting upwardly from the top of the curved section to act as a bafile.

A. feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a pusher blade which may be designed to direct snow or the like to one side ofthe blade. The concave lower portionof the blademay be varied indepth, the depth gradually increasing toward one side edge ofthe blade. As a result, the snow is directed laterally of the blade as the blade is moved forwardly.

ited States Patent A further feature of the theatres resides iii the pretti- 2,785,483 Patented Mar. 19, 1957 "ice 2 sion of resilient shoes which ride along the surface over which the blade moves, and supports the blade either in contact with, or slightly spaced from, the surface being cleaned.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims;

Inthe drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure l is a perspective View of my implement in operation.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the implement.

Figure 4 isa top plan view of a modified form of implement.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the implement shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevation view of the implement shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view of the resilient supporting shoes of the implement.

Figure 8 is a detail view showing the manner in which the implement braces are attached and detached.

The implement is indicated in general by the letter A. The implement includes an elongated handle 10 which is usually round in cross section and is provided with a square end portion 11. This square end portion 11 is designed to fit into a rectangular socket 12 which is secured at one end to the blade 13. Bolts or other fastening means 14 hold the handle engaged in the socket 12.

The blade 13 includes a generally rectangular blade portion 15 and a cutting edge 16 along one edge thereof. The socket 12 is anchored to the blade portion 15 by spot welding or other suitable means. This socket 12 is usually arranged to act as a brace for the trough-shaped portion in a manner which will be later described.

The blade 13 includes a trough shaped portion 17 which is generally U'-shaped in section with the open end of the U directed forwardly on the side of the blade opposite the handle socket. The trough shaped portion 17 usually extends mainly on one side of the plane of the blade portion 15,thi's"arrang'ement having been found advantageous over other forms of construction. The marginal edge 19 ofthe trough-shaped portion 17 is arranged substantially on the plane of the blade portion 15, or may terminate forwardly of the plane of the blade portion 15. I have found that it is well to keep the blade edge 19 near to the plane of the blade portion 15, the action of the blade in handling snow seeming to be advantageous.

End walls-21 are formed at opposite ends of the trough shaped portion 17. These end walls 21 assist in holding the snow or other material handled from falling from the implement and at the same time these end walls reinforce the blade and strengthen the same materially. The end walls are particularly useful when the blade is being used as a shovel.

It will be noted from the drawings that the socket 12 is shaped to engage against a portion of the trough-shaped section 17, thusacting as a reinforcement for the blade at the point of bend between the fiat portion and the trough-shaped portion. The reinforcing socket 12 preferably extends beyond the ends of the end walls 21 so that the trough-shaped portion iscontinuously reinforced throughout the major portion of its depth. In other words, when viewedfrom the side as indicated in Figure 2, the socket joins the trough-shaped portion 17 above the level of thelower end of the end wall 21.

In Figures 4' through 8 of the drawings 1 disclose a IIlOdl sea formof construction which may be used as a hand tool or may be mounted on the front of a tractor'or other vehicle. The device is particularly useful in removing snow and ice item aside want or driveway, wen as 3 for removing water that may melt from such ice and snow. The structure is designated in general by the letter B.

The implement B includes a blade 22 including a flat upper portion 23 and a concave lower portion 24. The concave lower portion is variable in height, one end thereof being relatively shallow and the other end thereof being relatively deep. in other words, the concave portion 24 has a relatively short radius of curvature near one end 25 and a relatively large radius of curvature at the other end 26. As a result the snow being pushed by the implement has a tendency to move laterally of the blade from the shallow end of the concave portion to the larger end thereof.

The shallow end 25 of the concave portion 24 is provided with an end wall 27 which is secured to the blade and may be integral therewith. This end wall 27 is designed to prevent snow from being deflected laterally from this end of the blade. The opposite end 26 of the concave portion 24 is provided with an end wall 29 which is detachably secured in place. The end wall 29 is provided with a marginal flange 36) along its curved edge which is shaped to fit the curvature of the large end of the concave portion. Bolts 31 or other suitable fastening means extend through the flange 3t) and through the blade to hold the end wall in position. This end wall is applied to the blade when the device is used as a shovel. However, when the apparatus is used as a snow pusher, the end wall is eliminated so that the snow will be deflected out of the large end of the implement.

The flat blade portion 23 is provided at its upper extremity with a rubber blade 32 which is slotted to accommodate an edge of the blade portion 23. Bolts 33 or other fastening means may be employed to hold the rubber wiper blade in position. This rubber blade is useful in removing water and slush from a flat surface when the blade is held in inverted position.

A pair of brackets 34 and 35 are secured to the rear surface of the blade 22 near opposite ends thereof. These brackets 34 and 35 are equipped with rearwardly extending vertically spaced ears. The bracket 34 is provided with an upper car 36 and a lower ear 37. The bracket 35 is likewise provided with an upper ear 39 and a lower car 40. These ears are provided with vertically extending apertures 41 by means of which they may be attached to suitable braces of a type which will be later described. The brackets 34 and 35 are secured to the blade in any suitable means such as rivets 41, or the like. A rectangular hollow sleeve 42 is secured to the rear surface of the blade in any suitable manner to extend rearwardly therefrom. The socket is preferably secure- .ly attached to the blade to form a secure connection with a handle 43 or push rod. The handle 43 may be sccured in the socket 42 by bolts 44 or other attaching means. The handle 43 may comprise an arm extending forwardly from a small tractor or similar object.

The socket 42 is provided with a pair of brackets 45 and 46 secured to opposite sides thereof. Each of the brackets is provided with a pair of vertically spaced ears. The upper ears of each bracket are indicated by the numeral 47 and the lower brackets are indicated by the numeral 49. These cars 47 and 49 are apertured to accommodate braces of a type which will now be described.

A brace 50 connects the upper car 47 of the bracket 45 with the upper ear 36 of the bracket 34. A similar brace 51 connects the lower ear 49 of the bracket 45 with the lower ear 37 of the bracket 34. A brace 52 connects the upper ear 39 of the bracket 35 with the upper ear 47 of the bracket 46. A brace 53 connects the lower car 40 of the bracket 35 with the lower ear 49 of the bracket 46. All of the braces 50, 51, 52 and 53 are similarly formed. a

Each bracket comprises three parts including an end member 54, an end member 55, and an internally threaded sleeve 56. One end member 54 is provided with a right hand thread while the other end member 55 is provided with a left hand thread. The sleeve 50 is internally threaded at one end with a right hand thread and at the other end with a left hand thread. Thus by holding the end members from rotation and rotating the sleeve 56, the bracket may be increased in length or shortened.

As indicated in Figure 8 of the drawings, each of the end members 54 and 55 is provided with a down-turned portion 57 terminating in an off-set end 59. The apertures 41 are preferably of sufficient size to permit the down-turned portion 57 and off-set 59 to extend therethrough. By rotating the sleeve 56 in one direction, the

/ lower edge 60 of the concave portion 24 of the implement is provided with a toothed blade 61. This blade 61 is detachably connected to the edge 60 by bolts 62 or other suitable fastening means, the teeth being preferably directed away from the center of the blade. The blade 61 is particularly useful in removing ice from a fiat sur face, the teeth of the blade cutting into the ice and break ing the same into small pieces. If desired, the blade may be removed when the implement is used for snow or the like.

Resilient runners are provided which may support the edge of the blade either in contact with the surface to be cleaned or slightly spaced above this surface. The runners include a bracket portion 63 which is secured to the rear surface of the concave portion 24 of the blade and includes a downwardly extending forward extremity 64. An L-shaped runner 65 having a bearing flange 66 and a vertical flange 67 is losely bolted to the vertical portion 64 of the bracket 63, the bolts 69 extending through a slot 70 in the bracket portion 64 to permit limited vertical movement of the runner 65 relative to the blade. A spring 71 is interposed between the bracket 63 and the runner flange 66, this spring normally urging the runner 65 downwardly. However, by pressing downwardly on the blade, the blade may be moved downwardly to lower the bevel of the forward edge thereof. It it is desired to hold the blade at a predetermined elevation when the handle is supported at a predetermined angle, the bolts 69 may be tightened to provide this result.

It will be seen that the implement B is sufliciently strong to be used in front of a small tractor or similar power unit if a handle tongue is supported in the socket 42. The runners ride over the surface of the ground and may be used to hold the blade out of actual contact with the surface to be cleaned where this is desirable due to an unevenness in the surface to be cleaned. If desired the runners may be supported at a predetermined elevation so as to remain at this elevation regardless of downward force upon the blade.

When the device is to be used in removing ice, the toothed blade 61 is attached, this toothed blade cutting into the ice and simplifying the removal thereof. If the structure is to be used in snow, the blade 61 may be removed and the end member 29 may also be removed, thereby allowing snow to be directed laterally by the concave portion of the blade and to be deposited beyond the edge of the shovel blade.

The braces may be used when the work is heavy and may be detached if desired when the implement is used in light snow. The rubber wiping blade may be used in the removal of water and slush or may be removed if desired to provide a flat cutting edge.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my implement, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A snow pushing and plowing implement including in combination a generally rectangular multiple blade structure having a straight flat blade and edge portion in the same plane of alignment and a concave blade portion of variable height extending laterally thereof throughout its length and having a cutting edge, the concave portion of said multiple blades gradually tapering from a relatively small end to a relatively large end in relative straight path alignment so that snow engaged thereby will be urged toward said relatively large end, an end wall fixedly secured to said relatively small end, a second end wall removably secured to said relatively large end, said end walls cooperating with each other and said blade to form a pocket to permit the element to be employed as a shovel when said second end wall is attached, and a handle means secured in reinforced perpendicular relationship to the said flat blade portion and the said convex side of said concave blade portion for moving said. blades forwardly in a perpendicular relationship relative to said handle.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said concave blade portion includes a detachable blade having teeth extending in the same relative parallel plane along the said cutting edge and directed in the same relative path of alignment away from the center of the said concave blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 841,848 Conner Jan. 22, 1907 1,202,791 Brownstein Oct. 31, 1916 1,232,763 Brownstein July 10, 1917 1,534,179 Klinger Apr. 21, 1925 1,632,260 Woodall June 14, 1927 1,872,082 Hedberg Aug. 16, 1932 2,256,953 Smith Sept. 23, 1941 2,351,136 Linden June 13, 1944 2,365,597 Roth Dec. 19, 1944 2,388,985 Martin Nov. 13, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,912 Great Britain of 1887 

